At the end of week one, James was counseling his audience to consider it joy when facing trials. This is, of course, contrary to our nature. A quote that often comes to mind when I think of my friend is attached to the bottom of his emails. It states that, “Life is not about avoiding the storms, but learning to dance in the rain.” Dancing in the rain is easy when you have someone with you and the temperature is nice and warm and the rain is welcomed. Dancing in the rain is a forced action, however, when accompanied by hail, freezing temperatures, and, all around, uncomfortable.

James wants to remind his readers that we should consider our “uncomfortableness” as joy. Then he says something that we all as parents have said; “you know that …” Being reminded of the truth can be freeing when we are ready to accept it or when we are living in agreement with it. On the other hand, the truth gets very uncomfortable when it doesn’t line up with how we are living. James proceeds to state, “because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” When we stop to consider James’ words and let the truth set us free, we do realize that through the trials of life, we can develop an attitude of joy because we know we are becoming stronger and developing perseverance.

I looked up the word in the Greek for “testing.” Another word that, possibly, better describes James’ intentions is “proving.” The first thing that comes to mind when I think of this is structural integrity. With my experience in the construction industry, I can remember when the electrician would be working on a house and the joists that separate the first floor and the second floor were exposed. I remember distinctly watching a man take a drill and haphazardly drill holes through those joists so he could run wiring through them. I had no doubts that he knew what he was doing, but the thought entered my mind, “how many times can you do that before the joist is no longer structurally sound?”

When reading how trials of many kinds “proves” our faith, I realized that this is one aspect that separates us as living beings from inanimate objects. Our muscles are resilient in the fact that when we tear them to endure exercise, they rip apart but are then built up again. While a joist in a house can only take so much drilling before it is broken, God seeks to prove our faith in an effort to make us stronger. When we think we are broken is when he is ready to build us back up and be stronger than before. Something I have been pondering is if there is any other way to develop perseverance, except by testing our faith.

The rest of the week’s verses state that “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” The term “perseverance” implies a goal in mind. You can’t persevere if you are walking aimlessly. Finishing its work is the ultimate goal of perseverance. What an awesome thought! Knowing that there is a goal in mind; a light at the end of the tunnel; the end of the rainbow. Our journey doesn’t necessarily stop there, of course. We will be put through trials later on, but to know that there is a goal in mind to our sufferings and trials is very comforting. Even more so is knowing that the goal is our maturity and completeness. God desires us to not be lacking in anything.

When we look at our trials or the proving of our faith in such a way that we are reminded of a goal, it makes the process, somewhat, more bearable. Hopefully, we will always remember that God is with us. He has, not only, not forsaken us, but strongly desires that we trust in His truth in order that we might be “mature and complete.” Hopefully, at the end, we will rely on Him and his truth when the next set of trials come our way.

because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

This is the year that I memorize the book of James. I started this process at the beginning of 2012 and it slipped away from me. Last year, I had the awesome privilege of memorizing 24 sections of scripture with Keely. This even included the entire 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians.

This first week in James isn’t that exciting. Introductions to me are a little tedious, but I did like how James called himself a servant, or more to the point a bond slave of God, but also of Jesus Christ. I know that my older sibling must be something pretty special for me to refer to them as “master” and myself as a “slave”. But, how often do we realize that God and Jesus Christ are worthy of being slaves to them? There isn’t much more to offer to a master than your entire self and God has certainly proven himself worthy.

I think about the vast universe that God has created and his ability to maintain all that we see here on earth on a micro level and in space on a macro level. God is worthy to be praised because of that. Then I realize God’s attention to detail when it comes to life here on this planet. His sustenance to the creatures around us. And even sending a provision of life to mankind after we fell in the garden. By offering his son to mankind as a savior must also make him completely worthy of praise. Then on a personal level. I have seen God work amazing things in my own life personally. The blessings, the trials and bringing me through them, and also the love that he shows me on a continual basis. This makes him all the more worthy of my praise.

The “joy” in the considering of pure joy is the same type of joy we should have when the shepherds rejoiced with great joy. They knew what had happened and they were so overcome with joy. We should have that same kind of joyous attitude when we face all kinds of trials. What’s interesting is if you compare the word trials with temptations and then look for those kinds of references throughout the New Testament, you notice that most of the verses include prayers of asking God to lead us away from those situations. (Matt. 6:13, 26:41, Mark 14:38, Luke 11:4, 22:40,46) Basically, we are to ask God to lead us away from tempting or trying situations but once there, we know that he has his hand on us and we will be better once we learn and struggle through them.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

My Purpose!

Only by the grace of God, do I have the most amazing life possible. My life's purpose is to

Honor my heavenly father by loving, leading, and helping those around me.

- Actively listening and evaluating
- Bring order from chaos
- Educating and training
- Encouraging through truth, love and knowledge
- Testifying that we are made by a Creator, loved by a Savior, and encouraged to be led by the Spirit